Simple file backup

cp - Copy files and stuff; since tar and rsync are sometimes overkill.
    This is, by far, the simplest way to backup and archive files. Also see ln for symbolic and hard links.

BASIC

cp file backupFile

SHORTHAND - This uses a shell trick to copy file to file-backup

cp file{,-backup}

RECURSIVE

cp -r folder destination

PRESERVE - Retain file permissions, attributes, and user and group IDs (I think)

cp -p file file2

VERBOSE

cp -v file file2